HISTORY TIP OF THE DAY

George Washington’s farewell address is published, September 19, 1796

After serving two terms, Washington must set one more precedent: the peaceful transition of power. It was not commonplace at the time, and Washington easily could have won a third term. But he publishes in the American Daily Advertiser in Philadelphia a thirty-two-page handwritten document, “The Address of General Washington to the People of the United States on His Declining of the Presidency of the United States.” His overriding theme is unity: “The name of American, which belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism more than any appellation derived from local discriminations.”

SUBSCRIBE

Sign up for Bill O' Reilly author alerts from Macmillan Publishers with updates and other information about Macmillan Publishers’ books, products and services that may be of interest to you. You can withdraw your consent at any time. See Macmillan Privacy Notice. Contact Us.